An apparatus and a method for compressing containers

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for compressing containers ( 10 ) and in particular plastics material containers with a first holding device ( 2 ) that is suitable for holding a first region ( 10 a ) of a container ( 10 ) to be compressed, with a second holding device ( 4 ) that is suitable for holding a second region ( 10 b ) of the container ( 10 ) to be compressed, wherein the second region ( 10 b ) is spaced apart from the first region ( 10 a ), with a moving device ( 20 ) that is suitable for moving the first holding device ( 2 ) towards the second holding device ( 4 ) in an infeed direction (Y), in order to compress the container ( 10 ) located between the first holding device ( 2 ) and the second holding device ( 4 ). According to the invention, the apparatus has a transport device ( 12 ) in order to transport the container ( 10 ) in a specified transport direction (X) that differs from the feeding direction (Y), wherein the transport device is suitable for transporting the container in this transport direction (X) into a position in which the first holding device ( 2 ) comes into contact with the first region ( 10 a ) of the container.

1 . An apparatus ( 1 ) for compressing containers ( 10 ) and in particular plastics material containers using a first holding device ( 10 ) that is suitable for holding a first region ( 10   a ) of a container ( 10 ) to be compressed, with a second holding device ( 4 ) that is suitable for holding a second region ( 10   b ) of the container ( 10 ) to be compressed, wherein the second region ( 10   b ) is spaced apart from the first region ( 10   a ), with a movement device ( 20 ) that is suitable for moving the first holding device ( 2 ) towards the second holding device ( 4 ) in an infeed direction (Y), in order to compress the container ( 10 ) located between the first holding device ( 2 ) and the second holding device ( 4 ), characterised in that
 the apparatus includes a transport device ( 12 ) in order to transport the container ( 10 ) in a specified transport direction (X) that is different from the infeed direction (Y), wherein the transport device is suitable for transporting the container in this transport direction (X) into a position in which the first holding device ( 2 ) comes into contact with the first region ( 10   a ) of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that
 the apparatus ( 1 ) has a carrier ( 14 ), on which several first holding devices ( 2 ) are disposed for receiving the first region of several containers ( 10 ).   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) includes positioning means ( 16 ) that position several containers ( 10 ) during the transport thereof by means of the transport device ( 12 ) relative to each other.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   the transport device ( 12 ) transports the containers ( 10 ), at least at times, in a clocked manner.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   the second holding device ( 4 ) moves together with the containers ( 10 ) in the transport direction (X).   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   a multiplicity of second holding devices ( 4 ) is provided on the transport device ( 12 ).   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) has an inspection unit ( 30 ) for inspecting the compressed containers ( 10 ), which inspection unit is disposed downstream, in a transport direction of the containers ( 10 ), in relation to the first holding devices ( 2 ).   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus ( 1 ) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims,
 characterised in that   the second holding device ( 4 ) is formed in multiple parts.   
     
     
         9 . A method for compressing containers ( 10 ), comprising the following steps:
 providing plastics material containers ( 10 );   compressing said plastics material containers ( 10 ), wherein a first holding device ( 2 ) holds a first region ( 10   a ) of a container ( 10 ) to be compressed, a second holding device ( 4 ) holds a second region ( 10   b ) of the container ( 10 ) to be compressed, wherein the second region ( 10   b ) is spaced apart from the first region ( 10   a ) and a movement device moves the first holding device ( 2 ) towards the second holding device ( 4 ) in an infeed direction (Y), in order to press the container ( 10 ) located between the first holding device ( 2 ) and the second holding device ( 4 );   characterised in that   the container is transported towards the first holding device in a specified transport direction using a transport device ( 12 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9 , characterised in that
 several containers ( 10 ) are compressed substantially at the same time.